Listen to Building Ballet Technique: A Practical Teaching Guide for All Levels by Marilyn Z. Gaston

Book Description

A very comprehensive and practical teaching guide for the novice-to-very experienced ballet teacher or studio owner, or any qualified professional wishing to enter the career, this book has a wealth of age-appropriate class material for all levels in 180 pages of teaching goals, lesson plans with specific exercises and activities, arranged by level of difficulty, in a progressive complete syllabus format that can be adapted to suit the needs of any teacher or studio. Beautiful color photos enhance and illustrate the content. Written in clear and concise language with use of correct ballet terminology, the volume is divided into four parts: (Teaching) Preschool, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and also Pre-Pointe and Pointe levels, with additional information to assist teachers in assessing or grading students, gauging student progress, and constructing a personalized curriculum. It would serve as a valuable textbook or reference book for any college dance pedagogy/education course, and prepare the transitioning professional dancer or dance major graduate with a practical guide towards becoming an effective and successful teacher. Additional topics covered include: preparation and tips for teachers, a discussion of differences in various recognized current teaching methodologies, how to create a teaching journal, and "frequently asked questions" regarding pointe work. Strong emphasis is placed upon knowing student expectations for each age and level, including physical, intellectual, psychological and parental-vs.-teacher perceptions. Written sample forms for Student Progress Letters (for parents), a teaching rubric and guides for determining student levels are also provided. The author is a former professional dancer with ballet companies in the U.S. and Europe, educator, founder of a major metropolitan professional company and school, and has taught on the dance faculties of multiple universities and private studios for thirty years. In addition to her performing and teaching credits, she holds a B.F.A. in Ballet/Theatre and an M.F.A. in Dance. She is a published author in fiction genres as well, and holds an additional M.F.A. in Creative Writing.